I'll be going.... :)

Starting at 11 am? I wonder whether work'll let us go this year since it'll now be four nights' accommodation and we've had to fight for tickets in the past...

Got to wait and see.. Work usually sends a couple of people (was 4 last year, 2 from my team), but trying to explain to my manager that we can send more if we pull finger and buy early bird is like beating my head against a brick wall. I've started nagging HIS boss, so we'll see if that helps or just gets me sh*tlisted lol.

And the official press release:

 

Microsoft New Zealand’s annual technical training event for the Kiwi IT sector, Microsoft Ignite NZ, is set to light up Auckland again this year, just at a slightly later date. 

 

Early bird registrations for Microsoft Ignite NZ 2016 opened last week. This year the event will run from 25 – 28 October at SKYCITY. Microsoft Ignite NZ is expected to sell out, as it has done in previous years, so developers and IT professionals are encouraged to get in quick to secure their spot at the event.

 

Nigel Parker, Director of Developer Experience for Microsoft New Zealand, says the date for Microsoft Ignite NZ – usually held in early September – has shifted to late October to align it with the Microsoft Ignite event in the US.

 

“The first Microsoft Ignite NZ last year, following the name change from TechEd, was a resounding success, and we are grateful to the IT industry for coming onboard with us to make it so,” says Parker.

 

“This year will have a renewed emphasis on technical training, which has been the core focus for the 21 years Microsoft New Zealand has run this event.”

 

Microsoft Ignite NZ 2016 will open at SKYCITY with a distinguished line-up of international keynote speakers to be announced soon, then continue at the SKYCITY convention centre.

 

A selection of leading local and international presenters will deliver more than 140 sessions to the anticipated audience of more than 2,500 attendees on a wide range of topics including cloud infrastructure and management, IoT (Internet of Things), unified communications, mobility and more.

 

“Microsoft’s mission – as articulated by our CEO Satya Nadella – is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. We will achieve this by reinventing productivity and business processes, building the intelligent cloud platform and by creating more personal computing,” says Parker.

 

“In a world where we have finite time and attention we need technology that is more natural, works the way that we do and moves us towards the goal of making us more productive. Human language is the new UI (user-interface) and bots are the new apps. It is about the mobility of the person and not the device.

 

“With a variety of sessions on these and similar topics coming off the back of the Microsoft Ignite event in the US, Microsoft Ignite NZ is the time and place for Kiwi developers and IT professionals to see these latest technologies from Microsoft and to hear first-hand where the company is heading,” says Parker.

 

Another notable change to the agenda will be the return of the popular party event to the Thursday evening, prior to the final day of sessions.

 

“We’ve listened to the feedback from attendees, who always looked forward to this traditional celebration and networking event, and are bringing it back to this preferred time slot.”

 

As usual, Microsoft Ignite NZ sponsors and exhibitors will be on display at The Hub, and a “Hub Happy Hour” will take place between 5.30-6.30pm Wednesday to provide a chance for attendees to mingle and enjoy a drink to round off the day.

 

Just got confirmation that I'm going which is nice.

@regs and @nathan any idea when the times for the Exam Crams will be confirmed? They are still TBC. Last year they were over the few hours before the keynote, but this year the keynote is several hours earlier. If they are still beforehand I won't have time to travel on the morning so I'd need to beat work until it lets me fly up the Monday afternoon. 

Lias: Just got confirmation that I'm going which is nice.

That's always nice. I've been asked whether I want to go, but no confirmation yet.

Lias:

 

Just got confirmation that I'm going which is nice.

 

@regs and @nathan any idea when the times for the Exam Crams will be confirmed? They are still TBC. Last year they were over the few hours before the keynote, but this year the keynote is several hours earlier. If they are still beforehand I won't have time to travel on the morning so I'd need to beat work until it lets me fly up the Monday afternoon. 

 

Sorry for the delay in answering.. been a v.busy few weeks!

The Exam Crams will likely be scheduled prior to the Keynote - still waiting to confirm those.  You would have time to attend two of the four we're scheduling. We couldn't really fit them in anywhere else - Monday is a holiday.

Channel 9 has launched a countdown and they will be broadcasting from Auckland this year.

Hey folks... I will be attending Ignite again this year - nine years in a row!

Our annual dinner at Midnight Express will be on the 25th October (first day).

If you want to join, please let me know via PM so I can have numbers for a booking.

I'll be there this year, looking forward to it.

If I could use Cortana to ask for more information I would go.

Doesn't fit in the budget this year unfortunately maybe next year! 

Is ME an attendee only event ? :) 

...going